Presenter Laura Fox is pushing for a return to Dancing with the Stars this autumn as producers are mulling over an all-star presenting team for the show’s 10th series, the Irish Mail on Sunday can exclusively reveal.
The MoS previously revealed that Doireann Garrihy is poised to come back into the hosting role alongside long-serving presenter Jennifer Zamparelli when the popular Sunday show returns in January.
But with Fox understood to be pushing hard behind the scenes to stay involved, producers are said to be weighing up whether a three-presenter line up could work for the milestone series.
Fox has made it clear at Montrose that she is desperate to hold onto her spot on the show and has let bosses know that she wants to be back in some capacity when it returns.
The popular RTE 2FM presenter won rave reviews after stepping in to cover Garrihy’s maternity leave on the flagship Sunday night show this season.
Garrihy and her husband, comedian Mark Mehigan, have since welcomed their daughter Rosie into the world and the former presenter is keen to get back to the hit show.
Presenter Laura Fox is pushing for a return to Dancing with the Stars this autumn as producers are mulling over an all-star presenting team for the show’s 10th series
Ratings remained strong throughout Laura’s run, a testament to how warmly she was received by audiences across the country.
Insiders revealed that the 35-year-old from the east Galway village of Moylough is extremely keen to stay part of the glitzy RTÉ programme’s family and has been actively making her feelings known to show chiefs.
‘Laura has let it be known she doesn’t want to just walk away after her stint,’ a source told the MoS.
‘She loved every single second of hosting and felt she brought a fresh energy to the floor.
‘She’s told bosses she’s hugely eager to return in some capacity down the line, whether that’s an expanded role, spin-off hosting, or staying on call for future line-ups.
‘She feels she’s earned her place in the ballroom,’ the source added.
It is understood that Fox’s role this season was always intended to be temporary and producers have now confirmed internally that Garrihy will be back in the presenter slot come January.
‘Everyone involved has been saying Doireann is coming back for next year,’ a second source said.
‘Laura did a wonderful job, but Doireann is the main presenter and they want her back.
‘That said, there’s definitely chat about whether there’s a way to keep Laura involved too, given how well she’s gone down with viewers.’
Fox was brought in to co-present the 2026 season after Garrihy stepped back to welcome her first child, publicly handing things over to her 2fm colleague and joking that Fox should ‘mind her den and mind her Jen’ while she cheered the show on from home.
Garrihy first joined Dancing with the Stars in 2023, taking over from Westlife singer Nicky Byrne and has since presented four series, becoming one of the most loved faces on Irish television
Fox hit the ground running, charming viewers with her signature warmth, quick wit and glamorous wardrobe.
Having already competed on the show as a contestant in 2024, reaching the grand final, she proved a seamless addition to the presenter line up.
She previously called the co-hosting role a full-circle moment and admitted she relished being on set without the weekly dread of facing elimination.
Her push to stay comes amid a broader rise for Fox across RTE’s radio and TV output.
On 2FM she now holds down the coveted 9am to 12pm weekday slot, having taken over from Zamparelli while on television she fronts RTE One’s Ireland’s Fittest Family having taken the reins from Mairead Ronan.
Garrihy first joined Dancing with the Stars in 2023, taking over from Westlife singer Nicky Byrne and has since presented four series, becoming one of the most loved faces on Irish television.
‘Laura is an absolute powerhouse and viewers love her,’ the insider added.
‘She stepped into Doireann’s shoes effortlessly, and she is really keen to return in some form and that has been made known.’
Fox was contacted for comment but did not respond.
DWTS returns to RTÉ One in January
